The Strathcona Regional District will not proceed with a proposed expansion of the Strathcona Gardens recreation service, despite the plan receiving majority support during the October 17 referendum.

At its October 28 meeting, the SRD Board considered Bylaw No. 643 for final adoption but chose not to move forward.

The bylaw would have expanded the Strathcona Gardens recreation facility service to include Quadra Island while establishing a revised cost-sharing formula among participating communities.

Across the combined voting area, the proposal received approximately 65 per cent support. A total of 7,307 votes were cast in favour and 3,973 were opposed.

The results, however, revealed a significant regional divide.

At Campbell River voting locations and through City mail ballots, the proposal received 6,705 votes in favour and 2,457 opposed.

Electoral Area D voters also supported the bylaw, with 576 voting in favour and 228 against.

The result was dramatically different at Quadra Island polling locations, where approximately 98 per cent of ballots opposed the proposal. Just 26 people voted in favour, while 1,288 voted against it.

Quadra Island residents also attended the October 28 Board meeting to express their opposition to the proposed service expansion and cost-sharing arrangement.

Although the referendum provided majority approval across the combined voting area, final adoption remained a decision of the SRD Board. Directors chose not to adopt the bylaw after months of discussion and consideration of the referendum results.

As a result, Quadra Island will not be added to the Strathcona Gardens recreation service and the proposed cost-sharing changes will not proceed at this time.

The regional district has also addressed public statements and legal correspondence questioning whether conducting a combined assent vote complied with the Local Government Act.

The SRD says it obtained an independent legal opinion confirming that the Board acted within its authority and met all applicable statutory requirements. The decision to hold a combined vote for the existing and proposed service areas was approved by the required two-thirds majority at an April 29 Board meeting.

The regional district says it firmly rejects allegations that staff acted unlawfully during the assent-voting process.

Any future direction involving Quadra Island, Strathcona Gardens or changes to the recreation service will be determined by the SRD Board.

To learn more, visit Strathcona Regional District.